Christ the King Church

About us

our story

A few words about us

Christ the King Church was established in 1932 as a mission outpost of the then flourishing Holy Family Parish in Puunene. During the early history of the Catholic churches on Maui, Kahului was an unimportant town consisting of a few houses.

It has been estimated that up until 1924, there were no more than 60 Catholics living in Kahului. But because of the valuable boat harbor and the expansion of the Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company (HC&S), it became obvious that Kahului would become an important city with many residents. It was then that Annie Enomoto approached Frank Baldwin, manager of the Kahului Railroad Company and HC&S to request land on which to build a church..

Baldwin offered Sacred Hearts Father Bartholomew Bax, pastor at Holy Family, a piece of beach front property near the Kahului Harbor where the Maui Seaside Hotel now stands. Because Father Bax was from Holland, he worried about the potential threat of tsunamis and suggested the church be located further inland. His request was granted in the summer of 1931. For one dollar, with the stipulation that the property could not be sold, land was given along the main highway for the establishment of a Catholic church in Kahului where it now stands.

The plantation sent men and equipment to level the lot, and construction began in 1932. Bishop Stephen Alencastre blessed the church as a mission of the Holy Family Parish on the feast of Christ the King, Oct. 30, 1932. Christ the King remained a mission outpost until 1942 when Sacred Hearts Father Evarist Gielen was named Kahului’s first pastor.

Written by:

Lucy Peros

Lucy Peros enjoys writing and reading in her spare time, attends line dancing class and other activities at Kaunoa Senior Center, and spends some of her time to activities at Christ The King Catholic Church. She has taught and Waihe’e Elementary and St. Anthony Grade school where she retired from.

Pastor

Fr. Efren A Tomas, MS

Father Efren was born on June 22, 1954 in Centro, Cabatuan, Isabela, Philippines. He is one of the six children of the late Hermogenes Tomas, Sr. and Marcelina Altoveros Tomas of Cabatuan, Isabela, Philippines. He attended Cabatuan Pilot Elementary School, La Salette of Santiago High School, St. Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines and Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City, Philippines

Associate Pastor

Fr. ANIL KOCHUTHAZHATH VARGHESE, MS

Father Anil was born on February 16, 1984 at Kerala, India. He attended Government High School from Grade 1 – 8, St. Catherine’s higher Secondary School from Grade 9- 10 and De Paul College (Intermediate).

Deacon

Kenneth Louis Bissen, Jr.

Deacon Kenneth Bissen, Jr. was born on September 4, in Riverside, California. He lived in the Philippines, Canada, and the United States. He attended different schools. He graduated from St. Louis High School in Honolulu and later from California State University Dominguez Hills with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Administration.

deacon

Cornelio Reasonda Pulido

Deacon Cornelio Pulido was born in Laoac, Manaoag, Pangasinan, Philippines on September 16, 1946. He attended Laoac Elementary School, Binalunan High School, and the University of St. Louis in Baguio, Philippines and majored in engineering.

Office staff

Inside the Parish Office

Left to Right: Shirley Kusuno (Religious Education Clerk), Madelyne Pascua (Business/Finance Manager), Sr. Angela Laurenzo (Director of Faith Formation), Amanda Patoc (Janitress), Mildred Chargualaf (Administrative Secretary)

Photos Provided By

Audie Pascual, married to Emma Pascual with 3 beautiful children, DJ, Cherry and BJ. Two granddaughters, Darienne & Reagan and daughter-in-law Roxy. Currently employed with the County of Maui and enjoys playing basketball and capturing precious memories on video and photo.

Audie also enjoys sharing his time and talent with Christ the King Parish as a lector and assisting with the church social media (Facebook) in publishing and documenting church events.